Railway-traffic-controlling system



Aug. 17 1926.

G. c. WHITNEY RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed Mafch 5, 1924with. "9

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PATENT orrics.

GI B R c. WHITNEY, on NEW: YORK, N. Y.

This invention relates to railway trafiic controlling systems in generalwherein means are provided for the control of trains by signals and inparticular to novel means for controlling said signals by virtue ofcontrolling its track circuit from additional points aside from or incombination with the usual and Well-known interlocking systems. 2

On railroad systems it is customary to provide what is termed a trackmodel,illuminatedtrack indicator or othe 1 means suitably located, forexample, in a tower,:blocl r station or despatchers quarters, to provideinformation as .to the positiontand movement of trains. In anapplication filed and to, co-pend with this application (Serial No.702,262 now) I have'disclosed a novel means for indicating the movementand position of trains and herein I am disclosing novel means forinexpensively incorporating, into the system of said co-pendingapplication, a point of control, for example, froma despatchersquarters, to govern as well as indicate the position and movement oftrains. The foregoing indicatesthe general object of this invention andadditional objects will be disclosed as the specification progresses andI will point out the novel features in the appended claims.

I have provided five figures to clearly portray the application of myinvention to existing track and signal circuit design and wherein Fig, 1shows the elements of my system as set forth in a systeniwherein thepresence of a train on a track circuit is'indicated by the absence of anelectric lightor other similarly appropriated means in the indicatorsystem; Fig. 2 shows the same or similar elements as applied in a systemwherein the presence and movement of a train on a track circuit isindicated by the appearance or variation in brilliancy of an electriclamp or other similarly appropri" ated means in the indicator system;and Fig. 3 shows the same elements involved but combined with a levercontrolled signal. All three figures set forth the novelty of thisdisclosure of incorporating into the indicator system a despatcherscontroller. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate modified means of connecting up theprincipal elements involved. Similar elements and parts are des i'gna-ted the same characters iii-all the relay 24.

ans er-weare s:coumomlu SYSTEM.

Application filed March 5, 192%. i Serial No. 687,129:

Referring to Fig. 1, a track section is set apart by insulated joints 8the track railsof the section being identified by the referencecharacters 6, and 7. At one end of said track section a transformer 9 isshown connected to rails 6, 7, by means of track wires 10, 11,resistance 12' and fuse l8. Transformer 9 is the medium, when energizedby means of wires 14, 15, fr in power wires 1'6, 17,

connected to the source of energyalternator 18, by which appropriatecurrent supply, when 'a train is not present, is transmitted over saidtrack rails to track wires. 19,20, fuse 21 and resistance 22 to winding'23 of Winding 25 of relay receives energy by means ofwires 26, 27, frompower ,wires 16, 17, and thus far the whole constitutes the well knownalternating current track circuit wherein most of the energy requiredfor the operation of the, track relay 241 is supplied locally and only asmall part or activating current is transmitted over the track rails. 7Also in conventional manner I have shown signal 32+ 33 controlled byCQIla t 28 of relay 2 and control wires 29, 80 and 31. The track andcircuit and signal and circuit outlined above is intended simply as astructure and I make no claimsof invention in connection therewithit isshown only to provide a basis for my ine vention. I

This invention consists in connecting the primarywinding 35 oftransformer 31 in multiple with resistance 22 as, shown and so that partof the current flowing to winding 23 relay 24 passes through saidwinding 35. Inductively coupled to winding 35 is shown secondary winding36 and the current induced therein is carried over transmission wires37, 38, .tothe despatchers quarters and there energizes winding 10,0ftransformer '39 by means including wire 13 and despatchersmultiple pointcontrol switch 14. Inductively coupled to winding'O is shown winding 12and the current induced therein becomes available and is used forenergizing indicatcr lamp 45. From. the above it will be clear that whenthe track section is not occupied it will be indicated byv the fact oflamp being lighted and that when the track section is occupied lamp 15.will not be receiving sufiicient energy to cause the same degree ofilluminationand therefore the condition of lamp t5 indicates'the condition, filth respect to the eeeupaney an non:

' transformer 34.

occupancy of the track section. Associated with control switch 44 isshown a resistance 46 which I use to provide despatchers control ofsignal 8238 and at the same time retain track "section indication. Tocontrol signal 3233 the despatcher moves switch 44 out of engagement asshown and into position to contact 47,this inserts resistance 46 intothe transmission circuit included with wires 37, 38,'and less currentflows therein resulting in lower induced current supply to lamp 45. As aresult of lessened current flow in the transmission circuit the currentflow in winding of transformer 34 and consequently to relay winding 23is lowered, by virtue of the increased choking effect in winding 35, andrelay 24 opens thus causing contact 28 to open with resultant change inthe signal aspect displayed. From the foregoing it will be clear thatwinding 35 acts as a current limiting device to limit the flow ofcurrent to winding 23 of relay 24 (Figs. 1 and 2 and to limit the flowof current in the circuit which controls relay 49 (Fig. 3) and furtherthat, by virtue of winding 36 of inductive coupling 34, the conditionexists whereby the despatchers switch 44 and resistance 46 combine withthe characteristics of winding 35 for the control of the correspondingtrack circuit (Figs. 1 and 2) and the corresponding relay 49 (Fig. It isfurther pointed out that the despatchers receiver transformer may act asan impeding element in substantially the same manner as I show contact48 on despatcliers control switch for the purpose of making a completeopening in the transmission circuit.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an application of my invention to a track sectionin a manner so that the indicator lamp is normally out or lowered inbrilliancy encept when the track section is occupied and the increasedcurrent required for the change in illumination of lamp 45 is providedby virtue of the train wheel shunt on track rails (i, 7, causingincreased current fiow from transformer 9 all as disclosed and claimedin my previously referred to co-pending applieat-ion and explanation ishere given only to show operation of despatchers control switch 44operating in combination therewith. In connection with Fig. 2 it is tobe noted that despatcliers control of signal is brought about byreducing the current supplied to winding 23 by virtue of the chokingeffect set up in winding of transformer 34 when the transmission circuitincluded with the wires 37, 38, is affected due to being opened orhaving resistance 46 added thereinto at the despatchers control switch.It is believed that further explanation in connection with Fig. 2 isunnecessary.

Owing to the fact that on some railroads some of the towers controllingthe interlock ing signals are closed part of the time it is desirable toarrange a simple means for despatchers control without affecting thetrack circuit and other signals controlled thereby and in Fig. 3 I haveshown a transmission circuit included with wires 37, 38, connected totransmitter transformer 34 the primary winding 85 of which is includedin the control circuit of relay 49 and at the despatchers quarters thesame elements are involved and in the same relation as I have explainedin connection with Figs. 1 and 2. It should be noted that lever locatedin the interlocking tower remote from the despatcher controls signal3233 by virtue of relay 49 controlling wires 29, 30. It will a so benoted that indicator lamp 45, when lever 50 is reversed as shown, showsthe condition of the track section because of relay 24 having control,in combination with lever 50, of relay 49. It will be understood thatunless despatchers controller 44 is closed as shown sufficient currentto energize relay cannot flow.

Attention is directed to the following facts:

1st. That the despatchers indicator lamp conveys its indication byvirtue of change in degree of illumination and that said change need notbe between definite extremes to be operative.

2nd. That the major portion of current in winding 23 of relay 24, Figs.1 and 2, is carried by the winding 35.

8rd. That resistances 12 and 22 may be displaced by reactances, oreliminated (as shown in Fig. and that the fuses 13 and 21 are not anessential part of my invention and may be omitted without affecting theoperation thereof. Reactance may be substituted for resistance 46.

4th. That despatchers control is effective without indicator lamp 45.

5th. That the indicator and control system are insulated from the signalsystem.

6th. That the current requirements of my system are comparatively verysmall; that I have produced successful and reliable operation in serviceby inexpensive 5 watt transformers; 1 watt lamps, telephone switches andNo. 19 A. W. G. twisted pair paper in sulated telephone cable so that mysystem is extremely cheap to install.

7th. That I may substitute a movable indicator in place of lamp 45.

8th. That I may eliminate transformer 39 and connect indicator directlyinto transmission circuit with despatchers switch 44 as shown in Fig. 5.

9th. That while I have illustrated wind ing 23 as cooperating withwinding 25 to produce mechanical operation of a contactor it will beunderstood that I may use the effects produced in winding 23 toinductively energize another winding,

seesaw winding 23.

13th. That, whereas means in the form of an impeding element (forexample resistance 12', Fig. 2') is required to prevent the train Wheelshunt being a shortcircuit on transform-er 9 the vsame may besubstituted by winding of transformer 3% (see Fig. 5) in which event theenergy required forthe' operation of my system is that which wouldotherwise be dissipated in the form of heat in the impeding element andtherefore When arranged as above indicated noadditional power equipmentor expenditure for current supplied is required. 14th. That the systemoperates with a minimum of parts and thus to effect a minimum expense inmaintenance cost.

Gbviously, various types of track circuits, both alternating and directcurrent, of single and double rail type-may be employed in combinationwith my invention by making the obvious appropriate changes well knownto any one ordinarily skilled in this art and I desire to have itunderstood, therefore,

. that the arrangements and illustrations which I have shown anddescribed are merely illustrative and do not exhaust the variousembodiments and forms which my invention may take in practice.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. A plurality of track circuits each includ ing a source of energy atrack relay and a current limiting device for each track circuit. andmeans inductively coupled to each track circuit to providecontrol of thecorresponding track circuitand track relay, said means acting incombinationwith said current limiting device.

2. A. plurality of track circuits each including a source of energya'track relay and a current limiting device for each track circuit, anindicating element for each track circuit, and means inductively coupledto each track circuit to provide :control of the corresponding trackrelay and indicatingelement, said means acting in combination with saidcurrent limiting device.

3. A. plurality of track circuits each including a source of energy atrack relay and a current limiting device for each track circult, andmeans inductively coupled :to each track circuit to provide control ofthe corresponding track circuit, said means acting in combination withsaid current limiting de- VlCG; i

a. A plurality of track circuits each inductively coupled to indicatingelements, and means including a resistance inductively coupled to eachtrack circuit to provide control of the corresponding track circuit andindicating element.

5. Atrac'l: circuit inductively coupled to an indicating element, andmeans including an electricalresistance to provide variable control ofsaid track circuit and said indicating element, said indicating elementarranged for indicating the presence of a train on said track circuit byincrease in energization of said element.

-6. A track circuit inductively coupled to an indicating element, andmeans including ICE to provide variable control of said tracl' I .uitand said indicating element', said indicating element arranged toindicate the presence of a train on saidtra'ck ci cuit by increase ofcurrent flow in a part of said track circuit,

7. In a railway traihc controlling system including a plurality of trackcircuits, a source of energy a track relay and a current limiting devicefor each track circuit, and means inductively coupled to each trackcircuit to provide control of the current supplied to the-track windingof each track relay, said means acting in combination with said-currentlimiting device.

8. A plurality of track circuits inductively coupled to correspondingindicating elements, and operable means arranged to provide control ofeach track circuit, the respective indicating element arranged to act asan indicator for'said track circuit, and for indicating that the meanswhen operated has been effective to produce control of the respectivetrack circuit.

9. Iii-a railway trafiic controlling system includinga section ofrailway track, a source of current connected across the track rails ofsaid section to form a track circuit, means at either end of saidsection to receive current from said source, individual means inductively coupled to said system to provide control of the current insaid track circuit, and indication means inductively coupled to saidsystem and influenced by train wheels traversing said section. V

10. A track circuit including a transformer, .a transformer connected inseries therewith, and a switch connected in series with the secondary ofthe Second mentioned transformer to control the supply of current to thetrack circuit.

11. A track circuit including a transformer, a transformer connected inseries therewith, and a switch and resistance connected in series withthe secondary of the second mentioned transformer to variably controlthe supply of current to the track circuit.

12. A. track circuit including a transformer, a transformer connected inseries therewith, and a switch and an impeding element, said switch andimpeding element variably controlling the current supply in said trackcircuit.

13. A circuit controlled by the wheels of a train and inductivelycoupled to an indicating element, and switch arranged to provide-controlof said circuit, said indi cating element arranged to act as anindicator for said circuit and for indicating that the switch whenoperated has been ct tective to produce control or" said circuit.

14. A circuit controlled by the wheels of a train and by means includingan indicating element and a switch, said means inductively coupled tosaid circuit.

15. A circuit controlled by the wheels or a train, a second circuitincluding an indicating element a switch and at times a re sistiveelement, said second circuit inductively coupled to said first circuit,said indicating element controlled by said wheels and by said switch.

16. A circuit controlled by the wheels of a train, a second circuitincluding an indicating element a switch and at times a re sistiveelement, said second circuit induc tively coupled to said first circuit,said switch and resistive element controlling the current flow in saidfirst circuit.

17. In a railway traiiic controlling system including track sections andan electric circuit traversing each track section, an individualdespatchers control means inductively coupled to each section, andindication means inductively coupled to said despatchers control means,said indication means influenced by said electric circuit and by saidcontrol means.

18. In a railway traflic controlling system including track sections andan electric circuit traversing each track section, despatchers controlmeans inductively coupled to said electric circuit, and an indicationlamp inductively coupled to said despatchers control means, saidindication lamp influenced by said electric circuit and varying inbrilliancy as the train moves on said track section.

19. In a. railway traliic controlling system including track sectionsand an electric circuit traversing each track section, a reactive deviceincluded in said electric circuit for each track section, despatcherscontrol means inductively coupled to said reactive device, and anindication lamp influenced by each ductively coupled to said despatcherscontrol means, said indication lamp varying in brilliancy rcsponsivelyto the car wheel move.- ment on said track section.

21. In a railway trailic controlling system including track sections andan electric circuit traversing each section, a reactive device includedin se i s in said electric circuit, despatchers control means, andindication means, said desgatchers control means and said indicationmeans inductively coupled to said circuit.

2 In a railway trailic controlling system.

including track sections and an electric 'circuit traversing each tracksection, an individual despatchers control means inductively coupled toeach circuit, and indication means for each section, said indicationmeans in fluenced by train wheels traversing said section.

23. In a railway traiiic controlling system inclu ling track sectionsand an electric circuit traversing each track section, a signal forgoverning train movement in to eachtracl: section, means for remotelycontrolling each signal, and means for synchronously indicating trainmovement in each track section.

2%. In a railway tra'tlic controlling system, a. track circuit includinga source of energy and a current limiting device, and despatcherscontrol means, said means inductively coupled to said track circuit andacting in combination with said device to control the current flow insaid track circuit.

25. The claim set forth in claim 24;, said track circuit also includinga track relay and said track relay controlling an automatic block signalsystem.

26. In a railway traflic controlling system including track sections andan electric circuit traversing the rails of each track sec-- tion, asource of energy for supplying current to each circuit, despatcherscontrol means for remotely controlling each circuit, and means forsynchronously indicating train movement on said rails. said controlmeans and said last mentioned means adapted to act simultaneously.

Signed at New York city in the'eounty of New York and State of New Yorkthis 31d day of March A. D. 1924.

GILBERT C. lVl-IITNEY.

